BIL/ESL Endorsement Cohorts

Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) through the Center for College Access and Success (CCAS) facilitates cohorts for teachers to complete course requirements for ISBE Bilingual (BIL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsements.

Teachers earn course credit towards their endorsement at a reduced tuition rate at Northeastern Illinois University. These cohorts are delivered as a hybrid, combining face to face class meetings at Northeastern's El Centro campus with an on-line experience.

After successfully completing the coursework and three months teaching experience with bilingual or English as a Second Language students, teachers with Early Education, Elementary or Secondary Licenses will qualify for ESL Endorsement. To obtain Bilingual Endorsement, teachers must also pass an ISBE approved language proficiency test. ISBE Bilingual and ESL Special Education Approval are also possible through the cohorts, with a lower number of course requirements for teachers endorsed in special education.

Completed coursework may also be applied towards certainMaster's degree programs. Students must apply to designated programs before completing 9 hours of the endorsement requirements.

This program was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education, National Professional Development Program and the No Child Left Behind - Improving Teacher Quality State Grants program awarded through the Illinois Board of Higher Education